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ADA Does Not Mandate Website Access for Visually Impaired

In a case of first impression, a federal district court in Florida has held that the Americans With Disabilities Act does not require organizations or companies to make their websites accessible to individuals who are visually impaired [Access Now Inc. v. Southwest Airlines, No.02-21734 (S.D.Fla.)]

According to the court in this case, the ADA requires access only to “physical, concrete structures, “such as buildings, stores, theaters, stadiums, etc. The plaintiffs in this case had argued that a website violated the ADA by not being compatible with voice dictation software, voice navigation, and magnification software often used by the blind or visually impaired in navigating the Internet.